Abstract—Conductor layout plays a vital role in distribution planning. The factors such as cost associated with conductor layout, the capacity of substations and the distance of the load point from the substation is to be considered while determining the optimal conductor layout. Here in this paper a novel approach of distribution planning is proposed. In this paper a proposal for a method for locating an optimum site for a substation which has the minimum distance from the various load points is given further the conductor layout to connect the various load points using the AHP technique is suggested in this paper. By combining the GA and the AHP technique it is possible to optimize the locations of substation and the conductor layout.
The results of the discussed techniques will lead to a configuration of substation that will minimize substation construction cost. It will further lower long range distribution expenses as it will lead to optimum feeder path. The application of the proposed methodology to a case study is presented.

Index Terms—Power distribution planning, AHP technique, optimization methods.

Cite: Sandeep Chakravorty and Smarajit Ghosh, "A Novel Approach to Distribution Planning in an Unstructured Environment," International Journal of Computer and Electrical Engineering vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 350-355, 2009.